9-year-old boy sexually abused in Nowshera

NOWSHERA: A nine-year-old boy has been sexually abused in Esori Payan area of Nowshera, police said on Thursday.

Police said the boy narrated his ordeal to his family members after which a report was filed by his father, Khan Azam against the accused. Khan Azam told Akora Khattak Police that he is a poor labourer. He said he was busy in his routine work when he got information that someone has sexually abused his son and when he came to his house, his son confirmed that he was raped by Razzaq.

The local people staged a protest against the incident and urged police to take prompt action. The policemen took the victim boy, Rehan to hospital where his medical tests confirmed sexual abuse.

Police conducted raids and arrested the accused, Razzaq within 24 hours of filing of the case. Police sources said the accused has confessed to his crime during initial interrogation. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Several incidents of sexual abuse have been reported in Nowshera recently, but despite strong action and widespread condemnation, such incidents continue to happen.

Last month, a man allegedly tried to sexually abuse a 17-year-old boy inside a madrassa in Kaka Sahib area of Nowshera.

Police said the affected boy, Quaid Ali Shah while filing a complaint told that he was going home from the bus stop in Kaka Sahib when the accused Hanifullah deceivingly took him to a madrassa and tried to sexually abuse him. The boy said he started shouting for help after which the accused escaped from the scene. Police filed a case against the accused and arrested him. Further investigation into the case is underway.

On 10 January, four-year-old child, Khalil, a resident of Nawan Killi area of Jehangira in Nowshera, was allegedly sexually abused by his 60-year-old neighbour Muhammad Riaz.

On 28 December, 2018, an eight-year-old girl was raped and tortured to death in Nowshera. Police said that the tortured body of eight-year-old Manahil was found in a graveyard on Kheshgi road within the jurisdiction of Nowshera Kalan police station. On 1 January, Nowshera Police announced the arrest of the alleged rapist and killer of Manahil.

Earlier, District Police Officer (DPO) Mansoor Aman said the increasing incidents of sexual abuse of children are a matter of grave concern. He said such incidents can be curbed by joint efforts. He urged the Ulema, area elders and social activists to play their role in creating awareness among the people about this issue.

According to statistics, in Pakistan during the last five years, 18000 children were sexually abused and killed. However, says the study, so far only 25 culprits were granted death sentence while 11 were imprisoned for life.